Title: 🚸2.4. Cybersecurity is Also for Women and Girls
Course: "Our networks, our security" Digital Security with a Gender Perspective > Section: Desmitificando la seguridad digital

When we talk about cybersecurity, we often think of something far removed from women’s everyday lives.

For example,  we might think of sophisticated hackers attacking large government or corporate IT infrastructures, rather that the attacks, harassment and abuse that women experience every day in cyberspace.

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Cybersecurity isn’t just about protecting devices and data—it’s also about keeping women safe in our online interactions. It includes the precautions, tools, and strategies we can use to protect ourselves from digital threats. These threats might be broad, like phishing attacks that target many people, or they might be directed at us because of our gender, such as online harassment or technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

For women and girls, cybersecurity is also about reducing risks and staying safe from online violence, abuse, and crimes that disproportionately affect us. These dangers are part of the broader issue of gender-based violence and discrimination. For example, many women feel unsafe online because a partner might use technology to track their movements, send threats, or harass them. Others may face sexist comments, privacy violations, or the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.

The good news is that cybersecurity can help us take control and reduce these risks. It doesn’t have to be complicated—by protecting our information, being mindful of our online habits, and making informed choices, we can create safer digital spaces for ourselves and our communities.